5 replies to this topic

[NicholasC]

Hello,
I am starting up a salt water tank which is: 2.5 foot by 12 inches by 15 inches

I have decided to go with Common clown fish, live rock and mabey a anemone. The substrate will be coral sand to a level of 2-3 cm. The tank will have a protein skimmer and maybe a UV sterilizer.

What do you think would be the best filtration (filter) for this tank?

[alec]

if i was in your position i would just use the protein skimmer and the live rock for filtration, filters such as canister filters just produce too much nitrates

the nitrates would be fine in a fish only tank, but in a tank with invertabrates it would be detrimental because invertabrates such as corals and anenomes are very sensitive to nitrates compared to fish but invertabrates are less sensitive to ammonia than fish

make sure you have a good skimmer though since it will your main way of removing organics from the water

also get a good current through the tank and the live rock will break down the ammonia into nitrites and so on then for some reason
dont ask me why
the live rock then breaks down the nitrates into nitrogen gas

good luck

this is the method i am farmilar with for reefs that size and i am sure it is not the only

[NicholasC]

a few websites showed that as well, they recommended a good protein skimmer and a internal filter just to get a strong current.

Do you recommend building a protein skimmer or is it better to just buy one?

[kuhni]

I have seen alot when your aim is perfect water conditions is to get a HOB filter and fill with nitrazorb and phos-zorb (i think that's the name), they also setup a refugium in which they grow a macroalgae such as chaetomorpha (sp?) as this absorbs the nitrates very well.

[alec]

I have seen alot when your aim is perfect water conditions is to get a HOB filter and fill with nitrazorb and phos-zorb (i think that's the name), they also setup a refugium in which they grow a macroalgae such as chaetomorpha (sp?) as this absorbs the nitrates very well.

yes, a refugium filled with macro algae is great for reducing the bioload

as for the protein skimmer you might have to shop around for a protein skimmer rated for that size aquarium, it is good to get a protein skimmer that is rated slightly higher than the aquarium it is to be set up in, but if it is too high the skimmer will remove the stronium, iodine and calcium which is essentil for coral, clam and other invertabrate's growth, will be depleated too quickly. i have never heard of a diy protein skimmer before so i don't know how they are

[Neakit]

dude bigger aquarium and sump it
i have a 4x2x2 with coral and the sump holds
bout 250 - 300L
the larger water volume allows for stuff ups